All In For Jesus?
O God, You have taught me from my youth;
And to this day I declare Your wondrous works.
Now also when I am old and grayheaded,
O God, do not forsake me,
Until I declare Your strength to this generation,
Your power to everyone who is to come. ~ PSALM 71:17-18 (NKJV)
While we were living in Florida, we attended one of the local Methodist churches. We looked forward to Sundays in this church, as the pastor gave inspiring and thought-provoking sermons.
One Sunday the pastor told of the night he was relaxing while watching TV. As he flipped through the channels, he came upon a gambling show. He wasn’t particularly interested in the show, but he was curious enough to watch a few minutes of it. One of the players had a large pile of chips in front of him. He was debating how many of the chips to put back in. Finally, he decided to bet them all. So he said to the dealer, “I’m all in.” He put all his chips in the middle of the table, risking them all.
Our pastor asked the congregation, “How about you? Are you all in for Jesus? Have you risked everything you have for Him, serving Him with your whole heart, or have you kept something back for yourself?”
I ask that of myself today. Is there something I’m not willing to surrender to Him, some area that is not wholly His? I pray that God will show me where I’m trying to hold some of the “chips” back for my own use or pleasure. May I be “all in” for Him because He certainly was “all in” for me.
Lord Jesus, may we never take for granted how much you sacrificed for each of us. May we gladly and joyfully give our all in service to you and others. Amen.
MARY LOU STETSER, ZION COMMUNITY CHURCH
Suggested reading: Acts 5:1-11